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Tea break awareness campaign…16 Days of Activism! Action step 5

OUR Communications and Outreach officer, Chelesile Ndlovu packed her outreach kit on November 27, 2012 and visited Thomas Rudland primary school located in Queens Park East, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Her mission was to raise awareness of gender based violence and to engage young people in the commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against women and children. Ndlovu interacted with approximately 700 girls and boys aged between five years and 13 years. She demystified some cultural practices, behaviours and attitude that perpetuate gender based violence. She encouraged young people to report any form of violence committed around them. This year’s 16 Days of Activism theme is “Question Violence Against Women. Start Asking. Start Changing”. In a question and answer session the children touched on some fundamental questions that revealed their underlying fears and concerns. Questions ranched from where they may find help if there is violence in their families, whether they should report the and neighbours if they are abusing them or someone they know.

Comments

Thank you for telling us a bit about your activities. I think it is very important to teach both boys and girls from a young age about gender roles and gender based violence and about what they action they can take when they encounter violence in their surroundings or are the victims of violence. You mention that your C&O officer "demystified some cultural practices, behaviours and attitude that perpetuate gender based violence". I'd be interested to learn more about the methods she used for education: discussions, games?

It's so important to create mechanisms of protection for abused children. In which ways your organization is supporting them, do you work with government officials for the persecution and punishment of these criminals?
Regards,